CONCERN OVER PLAN TO RELOCATE SCHOOL

The shock move is just "one of many" options being considered by Tories on the district council in a bid to cope with the shortage of secondary school places in the area.

The 1,000-pupil school could shift to a new site in Finchampstead as part of a £31 million Public Private Finance Initiative (PFI) being floated with the Goverment.

But the news has been greeted with horror by opposition councillors who claim the deal is being brokered under a "cloak of secrecy". They say any such move would have "serious consequences" for the local area.

Education bosses, however, think the radical plan could help relieve some pressure on school places.

It is thought — if the Government gives the go-ahead — that cash from the sale of Emmbrook could be invested in expanding the Holt, Forest and Maiden Erlegh schools.

All three schools, and a new Emmbrook, would see their capacities increased, with money also provided to replace Addington Special School.

The local authority has also battled to control a spiralling school repair bill, which could also be tackled with the boost of extra funds.

The council's Tory leader, Frank Browne, stressed it was "one of many" choices being considered to deal with the district's cramped classrooms.

He said: "We are determined to do something about the problem and there is some amount of urgency, but it is a very early stage.

"We are not in a position to say this is the plan and we would like to go out to consultation. It has not even been put to the executive yet."

Cllr Browne said the PFI bid was being checked over by the Government to see if it would be interested in financing the deal.

If approved, it could be signed and sealed by February 2005, with the bulldozers moving in to start building new homes by the end of 2005.